2025 Year in Review

2025 marks my 20th porniversary. It came so fast (hehe) that I’m a bit unprepared to process the milestone. So much has changed. So much remains the same. One of these days I’ll write a book (on this).  Until then, I’ll keep my commitment to recap the most recent year. And what a time it has been.

 

Erotic & Other Arts

This year was the first time I did not receive any invitation to perform in a sex scene. (Is it due to my top surgery? My getting visibly older? The shitty economy, anti-porn laws, and decline of studio productions? Maybe it’s a bit of everything.) To be honest, I was so busy that I barely noticed. Reflecting now, is a good reminder that if I want to perform again, I’ll have to be proactive about making it happen. Perhaps 2026 will be a resurgence of porn performances. I have some ideas. 

Released this year was a short film BACKSEAT that I co-produced with videographer Rae Threat and co-star Robin Astera. It is a very hot — and surprisingly PG-13 – film showcasing masc4masc attraction. Our film has toured festivals near and far, and it’s just been picked up by the fabulous HUMP Film Fest, so it will likely come to a theater near you! 

I also star in the short film Red Light Green by Eva Wu, alongside Valentine and April Flores, which premiered at New Fest NYC. A behind the scenes photo of a green screen moment is the image for this year’s holiday card fundraiser. (I still have a small amount left if you’d like one!) 

Coming soon…

I acted in Madison Young’s upcoming feature film By The Roots, an adaptation of their memoir “DADDY,” and an homage to the San Francisco sex-positive art scene of the 2000’s. The movie stars the amaaaazing Emily Robinson, Brant Daugherty and Margaret Cho, Ally Sheedy (holyshit, right?!), Josephine Chiang, Lotus Boy, and a few familiar faces from the adult scene… Casey Calvert, Fivestar, and myself! Plus many more… it was a beautifully surreal experience to be part of and made me so nostalgic for the early days of erotic performance art. 

WE BELONG, aka The Lex Doc is a documentary remembering the Lexington Club, with clips and highlights from the bar’s history. I had the pleasure of filming many a porn scene in that special place. Memories! 

Shine Louise Houston and I collaborated on a short experimental documentary film as part of the Fucking Different series, this time focused on intergenerational dialogue. Hand Me Down, whimsical look at what knowledge elders can pass down about sex, will release early next year!

 

Written Works & XXXtra Curricular

I wrote about Shine’s short film Camera and I for the book Screening Adult Cinema. It’s a special perspective behind the production, having worked with her for so long and for this film being pretty different! Hope you can check it out, and I can’t wait to read more essays from the book, as well as watch the films reviewed. Fun fact: the video syllabus for the book is on Letterboxd! (The site places a blur over NSFW box art, so create an account and toggle settings allow you to view adult titles.) 

A few quotes and short reviews in the media, such as a fantastic article on queer porn in DIVA Magazine’s SEX issue. The article also features a bunch of great photos from CrashPad shot by Rae Threat. 

I was quoted in the NY Times about sex on the screen in Netflix’s Hunting Wives. Love seeing Cheryl’s director work pop up in the mainstream! Mashable in a piece about adult film industry code of conduct. And I was tangentially involved in a political scandal when a conservative candidate was ‘caught’ following my author account on Medium, as well as reading other sex and relationship articles. The ‘scandal’ was misplaced, I feel, because it’s actually completely respectable to read about sex and gender. (I think we can agree on that!) What is a big deal, however, is pushing bigoted laws that restrict people’s access to healthcare. I’ve just about lost all patience with politics lately. (But please still vote.)  

I spoke on a few panels and podcasts, continuing my efforts to get over fear of talking. I was on Chelsea Poe’s Performer Podcast, and she’s very down to earth and easy to chat with. I’ll also appear in an upcoming podcast with Lucy Huxley. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to listen to either of these myself, as it’s so cringe to hear my own voice!! But I feel pretty good about having done them. I also spoke on the Woodhull Freedom Foundation panel on censorship, and at a screening Documenting Dyke Desire at Folsom Street Center, in a discussion hosted by Lynn Comella. I c0-hosted a double-book launch with Zahra Stardust, whose new book INDIE PORN has arrived and it is incredible, no surprise there! I also had the pleasure of appearing at FAAC in Mexico City, where I was a guest speaker alongside Shine Louise Houston to talk with moderator Alicia Delicia about the work we do to a fantastic community of adult artists. Shine and I also presented an ECO-PORN curation on environmental eroticism as part of the Magnifera Art Exhibition and was a very lovely evening. (Including the featured photo of this post, which was taken in my garden by Lydia Daniller!)

COMING OUT LIKE A PORN STAR 2nd Edition won “Best Book Cover” in the Book Jacket Bracket contest. Besides being so happy with Jamee Baiser’s cover design, it is extra special because Jamee redesigned the image to reflect my flatter chest. If you’ve yet to read the new edition, I’d love to send you a copy!

Pink & White (AKA best job ever!)

2025 marked my 12th year as Marketing Director for Pink and White Productions. I first got involved with Shine and the company when I performed in The Crash Pad in 2005. My step behind the scenes began in 2007 when I came on part-time as the Affiliate Manager, communicating with sex bloggers and reviewers to spread the good word about CrashPadSeries.com. Over time, I acquired more rolls and responsibilities. Some highlights this year included CrashPad filming in Los Angeles, and opening an online sex toy shop, and PinkLabel.TV presenting the BLUSH San Francisco PornFilmFestival. You can see recaps of the year with PinkLabel.TV’s Best 25 Adult Films of 2025, and CrashPad’s Top 10 Highlights. Next year is full of big changes and more excitement. 

 

Resolutions

It’s a special kind of agony to have too many interests but not enough hours in a day. This year my major off-work hobbies included swimming and water polo, gardening, cat parenting, and reading books. Here’s my top focuses for the year ahead. 

Two-in-One: Delete Amazon and Read More Books

I really thought I could finish at least 24 books in 2025 (or was it 25?) however in the end I only managed about half of that. The reading list is on my GoodReads account, which I’ve lost access to when I (finally) cut ties to Amazon. (Good riddance!) Some standout books include On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Braiding Sweetgrass, Bliss Montage, The Memory Police, Sorry Please Thank You, and the Three Body Problem trilogy (what a fantastic saga!). There are a few more titles that I’m slowly paging my way through and even more sitting on my TBR shelf. I created a BookShop.org 2025 reading list so you can browse what I’ve read and recommended — and purchase or borrow the books somewhere that doesn’t support billionaires.

Power Hour of Physical Joy (or Masochism, whatever works for you) 

One resolution this year that I think I did okay with was an unwavering vow of daily movement. The benefits are so powerful for such little time commitment, and really too important to skip. When I am active everything else that’s healthy seems to easily slip into place. I sleep better, drink more water, crave nourishing foods, and am in a better mood and have more energy. Daily movement is for physical health, mental health, for short-term and most importantly, long-term impact. I think I understand the older I become. This year I enjoyed competitive swimming and began playing water polo. I also continued to shuffle in workouts of running, cycling, and weight training. This coming year I want to return to another triathlon, and continue the daily mantra: motion is lotion. 

Create more sexy art!

Circling back to the lack of performance opportunities and desire to get back in the game, my desires for the year ahead are to make the first move and book some shoots to keep exploring and documenting my body and desires. I would love to film at least three new projects this year. Three is a magic number and should be an obtainable goal. Let’s see if I can get my butt into gear! 

Financial Security

As there were less work opportunities this year, and expenses grew, I found myself keeping a close eye on my budget. I have a habit of giving away more than I save, and with the state of the economy I want to make sure generosity doesn’t bite me in the butt. Times are tough, and I’m already experiencing the price increase of… everything. If I stay vigilant about money, I hope to be able to support community when I can, while also be secure in my own. I plan to re-read Lola Davina’s book Thriving in Sex Work: Sex Work and Money, and seek out financial advisers and other resources (Nerd Wallet, etc). I’ve long been paranoid about banking discrimination and my job security with the current administration and Project 2025. Even though I currently make enough to get by, it always feels vulnerable and precarious. I feel embarrassed to not be making a higher salary or a bigger income in my side hustles because it means I’ve failed. Eeesh…Talking about money is hard. I hope learning more about money management will help me overcome shame and be more prepared whatever comes our way. 

Okay. Blog posted! As always, thank you for coming along for this journey. (20 years?! WOW.)
I guess I’m ready as I’ll ever be!